Trainee Train Planners - FGW

[Mojo]

Based in Swindon. Closing date is 24 Mar.

https://firstgroup.hua.hrsmart.com/ats/js_job_details.php?reqid=521

I personally know several Train Planners at FGW, as well as the Head of Train Planning and they all seem very happy with what they do. Good entry-level job if anyone's interested.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the heads-up, shall be getting on with that today/this weekend

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

Applying for this now, was gonna start a thread but there's one here!

 

[aspierail]

I was going to apply for this position however as its based in Swindon im basically looking for a job in the london area as i prefer short commutes.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

I was quite tempted to go for this, but don't fancy a long old commute to swindon every morning! Good luck to all who apply

 

[Broken Viking]

I'm also tempted to apply for this, especially as I'm only a hop, step and a jump from Swindon. Mind ye though, I don't think they'd be keen on my timetable plans for so-called "Intercity 1250" VHSTs and 20-minute runs between Swansea and Reading! hock:

Good luck to all of those applying, though! 8)

 

[Ivo]

Think I'll be applying for this as well. Numerate? Aye. PC Literate? Aye. Interested? Aye. This, that and the other? Aye.

Oh wait.

I'm at University :cry:

All the best to all whom apply. And Death, with regards to your VHSTs, there's always HS3

 

[anthony263]

This could be a good job for me to apply for as i am finishing university this year and i dont really mind commuting between Bridgend & Swindon everyday

 

[The Planner]

The money is poor considering the job, if anyone is prepared to commute to Milton Keynes, NR were recently advertising for them at circa.£24K. There should be plenty available too as the three planning centres are merged into 1 during July/August.

 

[Bellwater]

That's what put me off, it's nearly half of what i'm on now. LOROL were advertising for the same role recently but they wanted experienced planners.

 

[EM2]

The money is poor considering the job, if anyone is prepared to commute to Milton Keynes, NR were recently advertising for them at circa.£24K. There should be plenty available too as the three planning centres are merged into 1 during July/August.

Was that for trainees, or was experience required?

 

[The Planner]

Off the street, I think the normal "degree preferred" nonsense was on it, but you didnt need experience. Try and get hold of some local MK papers if you can, I dont know if they are online or not, as I know they were advertised locally.

 

[91101]

To be fair, Network Rail pay better than the TOCs anyway.

Delay Attribution Staff: TOC: 25-28k clean salary, nothing on top.
Delay Attribution Staff: NWR: 29k, plus London Allowance + Sundays
TOC Controller: 30-34K
NWR Train Running Controller: 41-42k

Big difference is the various travel facilities you can get with the TOCs. To me, I would estaimate my travel facilites as in the region of £9K, considering a season ticket for me would cost in the region of 6k alone, let to mention the ability and freedom to virtually go anywhere for free.

 

[HSTfan!!!]

This could be a good job for me to apply for as i am finishing university this year and i dont really mind commuting between Bridgend & Swindon everyday

off your head mate lol! It's a fair old trek fella, it'd soon get the better of you, but don't let me stop you, good luck!

 

[Techniquest]

If he enjoys a good bash then it would be one way to get your bashing and commute into one! According to my decimalised mileages from CORE, it's 176.16 miles for a round trip every day. He'd soon be top of the Mileage Competition!

Serious question that I was pondering whilst in the Post Office yesterday:

With regards to train planners, do they generally speaking work office hours or what?

I ask because if I was to go for this I'd be commuting from Trowbridge, and unless I got some sort of staff travel with FGW going on I'd have to rely on the 49 to get me to/from Swindon, which gets me there for the start of the working day and gets me home a bit after the working day's done. Would be the only affordable way of getting to the job until I had the funds to re-locate to Swindon.

Not that I'm expecting to get it of course, indeed I'm still pondering the idea of applying for it currently. But if anyone has some sort of actual answer to my above query, I'd appreciate hearing it

 

[HSTfan!!!]

as far as I know most office staff work 9-5 (other than control etc) I would certainly assume this to be the case, could always give them a ring and ask, and yes you'd get you're free travel on fgw services (assuming you're going for FGW job not NR), think first do tickboxes for the other first group tocs as well and then you're atoc 75% discount

 

[87015]

With regards to train planners, do they generally speaking work office hours or what?

Should be okay to work semi-flexible working hours around whatever length the working week is, probably 37.5 hours. I'd be very surprised if not.

 

[The Planner]

Depends on the hours FGW work, at NR we are on 35 a week and its fairly flexible as long as you dont take the mick.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the replies gents, most helpful

Shall be reading that job description tonight, as Hellfire has been cancelled. Oh well, good excuse to get some paperwork done! Should be getting the application filled in very carefully (not willing to rush it at all for this one) tomorrow, all being well

Thanks again chaps.

 

[The Planner]

If you ever get through to interview, dont make it blatent you are an enthusiast, promote the fact you know your traction and geography and understand how signalling works etc... it will go down better than saying you love going out collecting numbers of HSTs.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh aye, I made that mistake with ATW a few years back. Think they'd have been happy for me to just grab my coat and get on the next train home...

Thanks for that tip

 

[The Planner]

NR have put another ad up for train planners (or Operational Planners as they like to call us now...) on their external website. So if anyone fancies working at Milton Keynes for about 20-21K then have a punt at it.